Gordon reaches wins mark with Intimidator's help
- Thread starter tkj24
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Who's idea was the flag stunt?
The idea to honor the late Dale Earnhardt when Jeff Gordon matched his career win total started with Gordon's tire specialist, Aaron Kuehn, who made the No. 3 flag following Gordon's 75th career win last season at Chicagoland. Kuehn said he approached Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, about it when he met both at Earnhardt Jr.'s birthday party last year. "Dale Jr. grabbed me and Kelley was ecstatic," he said. "And I was happy to do that for them, for what their father did for this sport."
The idea to honor the late Dale Earnhardt when Jeff Gordon matched his career win total started with Gordon's tire specialist, Aaron Kuehn, who made the No. 3 flag following Gordon's 75th career win last season at Chicagoland. Kuehn said he approached Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, about it when he met both at Earnhardt Jr.'s birthday party last year. "Dale Jr. grabbed me and Kelley was ecstatic," he said. "And I was happy to do that for them, for what their father did for this sport."
be9ak7ts16
Johali Lives
That was a classy ting Gordon did, almost made me like him just a little.
That was a classy ting Gordon did, almost made me like him just a little.
I think Jeff is a Class Act too.
muggle not
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Jeff is not only a class act but has tons and tons of talent. Some stats to think about:
Richard Petty.............200 wins............1184 races
David Pearson............105 wins..............574 races
Bobby Allison...............84 wins..............718 races (even if some give him 85)
Darrell Waltrip..............84 wins..............809 races
Cale Yarborough...........83 wins..............560 races
Dale Earnhardt.............76 wins..............676 races
Jeff Gordon..................76 wins.............481 races
Richard Petty.............200 wins............1184 races
David Pearson............105 wins..............574 races
Bobby Allison...............84 wins..............718 races (even if some give him 85)
Darrell Waltrip..............84 wins..............809 races
Cale Yarborough...........83 wins..............560 races
Dale Earnhardt.............76 wins..............676 races
Jeff Gordon..................76 wins.............481 races
What gives?
Junior baffled by backlash over Gordon's No. 3 tribute
Posted: Tuesday April 24, 2007 7:35PM; Updated: Tuesday April 24, 2007 7:35PM
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn't understand the backlash over Jeff Gordon's decision to fly a No. 3 flag after tying the late Dale Earnhardt on NASCAR's career victories list.
Gordon took the flag on his victory lap following win No. 76 on Saturday night at Phoenix International Raceway. His car was pelted with beer cans during the tribute, and fans have been critical of the display in the days since.
But Junior, who congratulated Gordon in Victory Lane, called the tribute to his father a classy move.
"I don't know how in the world you could take that the wrong way," Earnhardt Jr. said Tuesday during an appearance at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "That's what's bothering me so bad. Jeff can't win for losing.
"He was trying to make a good gesture. That's all that was. I don't think anybody in the world could find anything wrong with what he did. That's a shame he didn't get all the credit he deserved for it."
Gordon's crew decided on the tribute last summer when the driver reached win No. 75. The team had carried the No. 3 flag in its truck ever since.
Aaron Kuehn, a crewman on Gordon's team, approached Junior and his sister at a party last year to get their approval. Earnhardt had forgotten the request until reminded Tuesday.
Earnhardt said he thought his father would have appreciated the moment, and the time the team had to carry the flag before using it.
"That flag rode around in that truck for several months -- which my dad would get a real kick about that," he said.
"I don't understand the disrespect -- what's the angle there? When you win a race, it's all about you at that moment. You won, you're happy, you're excited, you're the best of the best.
"And [Gordon] decided to split that down the middle, 50/50, and give my father some respect and take half of his moment and give it to my dad. I thought that was really classy."
Earnhardt took particular issue with fans who threw beers cans onto the track. It's grown increasingly common. And a few years ago it created a dangerous situation at Talladega Superspeedway, where fans showered the track with cans after Gordon beat Earnhardt under caution.
As the Nextel Cup Series heads to Talladega this weekend, Earnhardt acknowledged Gordon could see more animosity -- and beer cans -- if Gordon wins to break a tie with Dale Earnhardt.
"I'd consider it nasty," he said. "I don't feel comfortable with beer cans flying on the racetrack at any point in time. You see a lot of them are full, half full, hitting people 'cause they're not making it over the fence, knocking people in the back of the head.
"I've seen that happen on occasion. It's a dangerous business. I don't think it's cool. It ain't cool at all."
Earnhardt said it's a misconception that his father and Gordon were bitter rivals, saying the two were friends who partnered together in several business ventures.
And when Gordon was breaking into the sport, it was the elder Earnhardt who helped him understand the etiquette of big-time racing.
"I never remember a rivalry. ... I actually never remember any problems," Rick Hendrick, Gordon's car owner, said. "I think there was a lot of respect there. I think when you've got two popular drivers, different fan base, I think a lot of times the fans create the rivalry.
"I think in that case it was just the Earnhardt fans didn't want to see Jeff win. And Jeff fans against Earnhardt."
Junior baffled by backlash over Gordon's No. 3 tribute
Posted: Tuesday April 24, 2007 7:35PM; Updated: Tuesday April 24, 2007 7:35PM
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn't understand the backlash over Jeff Gordon's decision to fly a No. 3 flag after tying the late Dale Earnhardt on NASCAR's career victories list.
Gordon took the flag on his victory lap following win No. 76 on Saturday night at Phoenix International Raceway. His car was pelted with beer cans during the tribute, and fans have been critical of the display in the days since.
But Junior, who congratulated Gordon in Victory Lane, called the tribute to his father a classy move.
"I don't know how in the world you could take that the wrong way," Earnhardt Jr. said Tuesday during an appearance at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "That's what's bothering me so bad. Jeff can't win for losing.
"He was trying to make a good gesture. That's all that was. I don't think anybody in the world could find anything wrong with what he did. That's a shame he didn't get all the credit he deserved for it."
Gordon's crew decided on the tribute last summer when the driver reached win No. 75. The team had carried the No. 3 flag in its truck ever since.
Aaron Kuehn, a crewman on Gordon's team, approached Junior and his sister at a party last year to get their approval. Earnhardt had forgotten the request until reminded Tuesday.
Earnhardt said he thought his father would have appreciated the moment, and the time the team had to carry the flag before using it.
"That flag rode around in that truck for several months -- which my dad would get a real kick about that," he said.
"I don't understand the disrespect -- what's the angle there? When you win a race, it's all about you at that moment. You won, you're happy, you're excited, you're the best of the best.
"And [Gordon] decided to split that down the middle, 50/50, and give my father some respect and take half of his moment and give it to my dad. I thought that was really classy."
Earnhardt took particular issue with fans who threw beers cans onto the track. It's grown increasingly common. And a few years ago it created a dangerous situation at Talladega Superspeedway, where fans showered the track with cans after Gordon beat Earnhardt under caution.
As the Nextel Cup Series heads to Talladega this weekend, Earnhardt acknowledged Gordon could see more animosity -- and beer cans -- if Gordon wins to break a tie with Dale Earnhardt.
"I'd consider it nasty," he said. "I don't feel comfortable with beer cans flying on the racetrack at any point in time. You see a lot of them are full, half full, hitting people 'cause they're not making it over the fence, knocking people in the back of the head.
"I've seen that happen on occasion. It's a dangerous business. I don't think it's cool. It ain't cool at all."
Earnhardt said it's a misconception that his father and Gordon were bitter rivals, saying the two were friends who partnered together in several business ventures.
And when Gordon was breaking into the sport, it was the elder Earnhardt who helped him understand the etiquette of big-time racing.
"I never remember a rivalry. ... I actually never remember any problems," Rick Hendrick, Gordon's car owner, said. "I think there was a lot of respect there. I think when you've got two popular drivers, different fan base, I think a lot of times the fans create the rivalry.
"I think in that case it was just the Earnhardt fans didn't want to see Jeff win. And Jeff fans against Earnhardt."
I hope the boobs who throw crap onto the track get themselves thrown out of the track. Unfortunately, it is at the end of the race when it doesn't do any good. *sigh*
Any person who stoops so low as to risk hurting another spectator ought to face assault charges.
Any person who stoops so low as to risk hurting another spectator ought to face assault charges.
be9ak7ts16
Johali Lives
I'm totally flabbergasted on how anyone could possibly take this any other way than an honor to Earnhart. I'm not a big fan of eather of these guys but damn, you have to give credit where credits due. Jeff, Damn the Torpedo's Full Steam Ahead. I might have to start rootin for you just to irritate the naysayers.
Welcome aboard the Jeff Gordon fan wagon be9ak7ts
be9ak7ts16
Johali Lives
LMAO TKJ, the operative word there was might.
